College of

Engineering, Architecture and Technology

WhenDr. LouisThomasonstartedhisfreshmanyearat Oklahoma State University in1956 after graduating fromEnid HighSchool, hewas tasked with taking the first steps ofhismonumentalcareer hike.He beganhisascentwhenhe was welcomed into the industry byInternational Business Machines Co., workinginSoftware Architecture and Designafter graduatingwith aPh.D. in electrical engineering.

For over four decades,Dr. Thomasonworkedwiththe managementand developmentofhigh-end computer systems, designing and constructing advanced software and network communication products at IBM, in addition to becoming a senior technical staff member. He also served as the chair of thetask force that helped display IBM’ssoftwarefunctionalityto a wide range of customersbefore eventually being transferred to the Europeandivisiontolead the samediscussions.

Along with leadership in systems software at IBM, Louis taught at a number of universities, including Virginia Tech, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, State University of New York Ulster (SUNY) and even his alma mater, Oklahoma State University. Over the years, he guided countless students through his classes, butone ofhis mostmemorableexperiencesremainsteachinglike-minded individuals about transistors at the FAA Training Centerin Oklahoma City. While pursuing his doctorate, Louis also served as the co-director of OSU's Engineering Computing Center, where he gained real-world experience with early computing technology and formed influential professional relationships that helped his entry into IBM.

Throughout his teaching years, and even before his time at OSU (Oklahoma A&M as his parents called it when they attended), Louis has always viewed education as a cornerstone of personal and professional fulfillment. “Education to me is the basis for an enjoyable, rewarding life,” Louis said.

He stated thathis time spent learning in the classroom prepared him not only for his rich and influential career at IBM, but his rewarding and joyful time working with young students as a professor.This belief throughout his life has allowed Louisto be selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who, a biographical directory that profiles notable or accomplished individuals across various professions.

After retiring from IBM,Louiscontinued to live by the Cowboy Code in his everyday life, teaching atSUNY Ulster as an adjunct professor, where he supported veterinary technology applications developed by his students. He ensured accessibility on institutional networks, an important factor for accreditation purposes. He has alsocontinued exploring new programming tools developed with artificial intelligence, completing the Google AI Essentials Certification earlier this year.